Mary Henry (Independent)

Last week I pointed out that there was a threat that public health doctors would go on strike. We also had the problem of the SARS epidemic getting nearer this country every day. The Leader stated at the time that the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Martin, was very good at sorting out such problems when I pointed out that public health doctors were in dispute with the Department and various other agencies for nine years. The strike is now taking place and the Minister says he cannot become involved. Will the Leader ask him to come here to explain the reason he cannot become involved in this very serious issue?

One could not meet a less belligerent group than public health doctors. Nine years is a long time to wait for a resolution of a problem which they thought had been solved at the time. I would be glad if the Leader would ask the Minister to come and suggest a way forward. There are problems which could become very serious if there were many SARS cases here. It is because public health doctors are so good that we know so little about them. We do not want to have epidemics starting in this country and getting out of control.